My top 5:1. Shinran Shonin, whose teachings i follow.2. Rennyo shonin, who helped spread the teachings of Shinran Shonin throughout Japan, from which it spread throughout to the world.3. Inagaki Zuiken, a famous Shin master.4. Inagaki Zuio, son of (3) and instrumental in translating many Shin texts from Sino-Japanese to English (two published by the Numata Translation Committee)5. The Seven Masters - Nagarjuna, Vasubhandhu, Tan-luan, Dao-cuo, Shan-dao, Genshin, Genku

Contemplating the power of Tathagata's Primal Vow,One sees that no foolish being who encounters it passes by in vain.When a person single-heartedly practices the saying of the Name alone,It brings quickly to fullness and perfection [in that person] the great treasure ocean of true and real virtues.- Shinran Shonin

Shinran Shonin for showing that the laity can attain unsurpassed Enlightenment

Honen Shonin for being so brave to separate from Tendai sect and form the nembutsu way for all people

Thich Nhat Hanh for being the Buddha that he is.

Dharmakara Bodhisatva, though he is symbolic of the shared karmic suffering and his desire to liberate all.

Pema Chodron for sharing compassion through her works and introducing me further into buddhism

"Just say the nembutsu and be liberated" Shinran Shonin"However hard it may be to bid farewell to this world, when the conditions that bind us to this saha [samsara] realm run out, we are powerless to do anything as the final hour arrives and we are swept away to that Land." -A Record in Lament of Divergences

1. Harriet Lassale (intiated me into the path of loving compassion).2. Yave (initiated me into the embodiment of the true buddhahood, which i dont consider myself to have attained.)3. Tom (who gave me my enlightenment koan (i dont consider myself to be enlightened).4. Shu An Wu. (mountain monk who initiated me into philosophical freedom.)5. Bill and Ben. (wandering monks, who have been there for me. they count as one since they share the same mind.)

this is in order of gratitude, Harriet being the most important to me. except for Bill and Ben whom i have a soft spot for.

in any matters of importance. dont rely on me. i may not know what i am talking about. take what i say as mere speculation. i am not ordained. nor do i have a formal training. i do believe though that if i am wrong on any point. there are those on this site who i hope will quickly point out my mistakes.

retrofuturist wrote:I thought it might be worth starting up a topic focussing on who we personally consider to be the 5 greatest Mahayana masters of all time, and a few sentences on what makes them so significant.

It's a very tough question as there are so many great masters esp. in the later half of the 20th century (these masters saved Buddhism from destruction as the worst wars and the fascist, communist and capitalist menaces and intense delusions and defilements swept the world threatening all physical and spiritual life).

Empty Cloud, Xu Yun, would be up there for sure.

AH - ALL TIME - well it gets easier then beginning with Lord Buddha. I had thought you were asking about more recent times.

catmoon wrote:Ha ha! I am the only one who has not fallen to the evil of preferences, for I have no favorites!

My 2nd favourite Mahayana master of all time would vouch for the potential efficacy of your non-favouritism!

Hsin Hsin Ming by Seng-T'san

The Great Way is not difficult for those who have no preferences. When love and hate are both absent everything becomes clear and undisguised.

Make the smallest distinction, however, and heaven and earth are set infinitely apart. If you wish to see the truth then hold no opinions for or against anything.

To set up what you like against what you dislike is the disease of the mind. When the deep meaning of things is not understood, the mind’s essential peace is disturbed to no avail.

Metta,Retro.

Actually I was referring to a story from the Blue Cliff Record about the three monks who were travelling under a vow of silence. I forget why but one of them, under pressure of anger or something, finally blurts something out. The second monk retorts "You fool, you have broken your vow!" and third one smiles blissfully and says "Only I have not spoken".

So I thought I would blissfully take on the role of the third idiot, as is my wont.